January 16, 2015

Starting a brand new year, everyone is full of great intentions and aspirations. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the idea that we can mentally erase the scoreboard and start over with a clean slate on 01/01. We all do the "eat better, live better, be happier, exercise" but I have some fun things to my scoreboard like try on a new lipstick every month, learn how to properly ski, throw out at least 1 thing from my house every week to stop the clutter nightmare, and of course, knit more and bake more. However, after week 1 and now into week 2 I realize I need to ease myself in slowly to all my self-inflicted expectations.

So to ease on into the year, here is a wonderfully easy butter cookie recipe that really can be used as a the cookie dough base for many other cookies. You can prep beforehand, and freeze it until you need it. I just so happened to tint 3 batches and decided to make a swirly rainbow cookie with clear sprinkles instead of using cookie cutters. Use this recipe all year round, have fun, be creative, it's gonna be a great year!

1) Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2) In a mixer, mix flour and sugar together at slow speed.
3) add butter and then vanilla to mix.
4) once a dough ball begins to form, place dough onto surface and kneed until consistent.
5) For my rainbow swirl cookie effect, divide dough into 3 portions and tint 1 portion pink, 2nd portion teal, and leave the 3rd as is.
6) Rolls each dough out to a rectangle approximately 12 inches by 7 inches, give or take 1 or 2 inches.
7) Stack each rectangle dough on each other and roll it up into a log.
8) Plastic wrap the log and place in freezer for about 20 minutes.
9) Remove from freezer, take plastic wrap off, and cut into slices 1/2 inch thick.
10) Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool before serving or decorating.